As September comes to a speeding end, I didn’t wanna let Gospel Music Heritage Month end without making sure I talked about the incomparable Mahalia Jackson.  Many people hear the name her name and think to themselves, “yeah, gospel pioneer… I get it.”

But few of us, if we’re honest with ourselves, will acknowledge that we actually know very little about her.  So, here goes…

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) was born in New Orleans, LA.  At the age of 16, she moved to Chicago, where she worked as a domestic, then as a beautician.  At age 18, she met Thomas A. Dorsey and, shortly thereafter, began touring with him as his primary vocalist and collaborator.

At age 24, she landed her first recording contract (Decca Records) after being heard singing at a funeral.  From that record deal, she later went to sign with Apollo Records, then Columbia Records (you thought Mary Mary was Columbia’s first gospel artist??? ).

She married Isaac Lanes Grey Hockenhull in 1936, but divorced him in 1941 (allegedly because of his racehorse gambling addiction and persistent pressure from him that she sing secular music, which would be more profitable).

Meanwhile, her success in gospel music began bringing her international acclaim as she toured throughout Europe.  In 1958, Mahalia’s version of “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands” peaked at #68 on Billboard’s singles chart, which was unprecedented at the time.

Toward the latter portion of her life on Earth, Mahalia was very involved with the Civil Rights Movement.  She is known to have joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at many events, the most famous of which was probably the 1963 March On Washington, where Dr. King gave his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Mahalia Jackson passed from heart failure in January of 1972, in Evergreen Park, IL.  Two services were held–one in Chicago and one in New Orleans.  Aretha Franklin closed the Chicago service with “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” the now classic song made famous by Jackson.  The majority of her estate, with an estimated value of over a million dollars, was left to her family back in New Orleans.

Following her death, she was honored with a GRAMMY Lifetime Acheivement Award and, since then, has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Hame and has her face on a U.S. postal stamp.

I remember seeing some great videos of Mahalia on YouTube a while back… just HAD to post one of ‘em.  In this one, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” watch how Mahalia WORKS this song so tough that, by the end, she’s in another DIMENSION! LOL